CH716927A2 - Arrangement for maintaining and transmitting an acoustic radiation membrane in a watch case. - Google Patents

Abstract

There is provided an arrangement for maintaining and transmitting a vibratory membrane (10) of acoustic radiation in a case (2) for a musical or striking watch (1). The case comprises at least one lens (3) mounted on a middle part (4) and a bottom (5) mounted on a side opposite to the middle part. The acoustic radiation membrane is held in a part of the watch case, such as the middle part by at least one connecting piece (12) arranged between a peripheral edge of the membrane or a border element (11) of the membrane and the caseband by acting to maintain the membrane in a direction parallel to the plane of the watch. The connecting piece may be a screw screwed into a threaded opening (14) of the middle part and coming into contact with the border element of the membrane.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an arrangement for maintaining and vibrating transmission of an acoustic radiation membrane in a musical or ringing watch case.

[0002] The invention also relates to a musical or ringing watch comprising an arrangement for maintaining and transmitting vibration of an acoustic radiation membrane in a watch case.

STATE OF THE ART

In a traditional striking mechanism of a watch, one or more gongs, which are attached to at least one gong holder, are struck by one or more hammers in the same horizontal plane as the plate carrying the watch movement. A membrane of the striking mechanism is still added in the box for acoustic radiation of the vibration of the stamp (s) struck. The membrane is generally clamped in a direction perpendicular or vertical to the plane between a movement support and part of the middle part for its retention in the watch case. In a particular example, the membrane is placed between the bottom of the watch case and the movement on the watch plate. It is fixed or clamped between the back and part of the caseband of the watch case. However, it is observed that there is not a good vibratory transfer of a stamp struck towards the membrane for an adequate acoustic radiation of the generated sound.

In the case of a musical watch, the sound is produced by the vibrations of the blades of a keyboard of the striking mechanism and an acoustic radiation membrane can also be provided in the watch case. This membrane is also clamped in a direction perpendicular to the plane between a movement support and part of the middle part for its retention in the watch case.

[0005] Patent EP 2 367 078 B1 describes a watch provided with a striking mechanism. An acoustic membrane is arranged and connected to the watch case to emit a sound produced by the striking mechanism. The membrane is held in the watch case by being clamped between a movement support and the back of the case in a direction perpendicular to the watch plane. With such maintenance of the membrane, this does not make it possible to have a good vibratory transfer of a sound generated towards the membrane for adequate acoustic radiation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The aim of the invention is therefore to overcome the drawbacks of the state of the art by providing an arrangement for maintaining and transmitting vibration of an acoustic radiation membrane in a striking watch case, or even musical one, to obtain good acoustic performance when operating a striking mechanism in the watch case.

[0007] To this end, the invention relates to an arrangement for maintaining and transmitting a vibration of an acoustic radiation membrane in a watch case comprising the characteristics defined in independent claim 1.

[0008] Particular embodiments of the arrangement for maintaining and transmitting vibration of an acoustic radiation membrane are defined in dependent claims 2 to 11.

An advantage of the arrangement of the acoustic radiation membrane according to the present invention lies in the fact that maintenance of the acoustic radiation membrane in the watch case is obtained by at least one connecting piece acting in a horizontal direction and not vertical on an edge of the membrane or on a border element of the membrane. The connecting piece may be a coil spring bearing against a gong holder, for example between an inner wall of the middle part and an edge or an edge element of the membrane. The connecting piece can also be a screw, which is screwed into a threaded opening, for example in the middle part to laterally support the edge or a membrane border element, or a combination of a screw and a coil spring.

Advantageously according to a first embodiment and in comparison with a coil spring, the use of a screw makes it possible to greatly increase the binding or contact force of the membrane relative to a spring, but also to master it. In support on the periphery of the membrane, a compression effect of the membrane is achieved. It can also be envisaged to adapt a frequency of acoustic radiation from the membrane in accordance with a struck timbre generating a particular note or at least one activated blade of a musical keyboard. Thus, this makes it possible to adapt the main frequency of acoustic radiation from the membrane by the holding force applied to said membrane so as to adapt it more easily to a timbre that is more difficult to tune and generates a particular note once struck.

Advantageously according to another embodiment, at least two screws are provided each passing through a different opening and passing through a peripheral edge of the membrane so as to be each screwed into a respective thread made in a wall of the watch case, for example the middle part. This makes it possible to greatly increase the stretching force of the membrane when it is held in order to adapt the main frequency of acoustic radiation from the membrane in accordance with a struck timbre generating a particular note or at least one activated blade of a keyboard musical. According to this other embodiment, the frequency adaptation is the reverse of that of the aforementioned first embodiment.

To this end, the invention also relates to a striking or musical watch with an arrangement of an acoustic radiation membrane in a watch case, and which comprises the characteristics defined in independent claim 12.

One embodiment of the striking or musical watch is defined in dependent claim 13.

Advantageously, several acoustic membranes can be provided. A first membrane may be provided at the level of the dial and a second membrane as a double bottom above the back of the watch case. It may also be provided to mount several acoustic membranes spaced from one another or superimposed. All the membranes are held in a part of the watch case by a connecting piece in contact with a peripheral edge or a border element of each membrane with a support or acting in a direction parallel to the plane of the watch, that is to say parallel to a watch dial or a plate supporting the watch movement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The goals, advantages and characteristics of the arrangement for maintaining and transmitting the acoustic radiation membrane in the watch case will appear better in the following description on the basis of non-limiting embodiments illustrated by the drawings on which: FIGS. 1a and 1b represent in a simplified manner a top view of a first embodiment of an arrangement for maintaining and transmitting vibration of an acoustic radiation membrane, and a partial cross section of a first form execution of the arrangement for maintaining and transmitting vibration of an acoustic radiation membrane in a watch case according to the invention, FIGS. 2a and 2b represent in a simplified manner a top view of a second embodiment of an arrangement for maintaining and transmitting vibration of an acoustic radiation membrane, and a partial cross section of a second embodiment of the 'arrangement for maintaining and transmitting vibration of an acoustic radiation membrane in a watch case according to the invention, FIG. 3 shows in a simplified manner a partial cross section of a third embodiment of a holding arrangement and vibration transmission of an acoustic radiation membrane in a watch case according to the invention, FIG. 4 shows in a simplified manner a partial cross section of a fourth embodiment of an arrangement for maintaining and transmitting vibration of a acoustic radiation membrane in a watch case according to the invention, and FIG. 5 represents a graph of the acoustic level of each vibratory mode of the membrane of the arrangement, held in the watch case with and without fixing screw or constraint according to the invention and with reference to Figures 1a and 1b.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, all the parts relating to the maintenance of an acoustic radiation membrane in a watch case, which are well known to a person skilled in the art in this technical field, are only described in a simplified manner. .

Figures 1a and 1b show a simplified top view without watch movement 6 and support 7 of the watch movement, and a simplified partial cross section of a first embodiment of a watch case 2 comprising an arrangement of maintenance and vibration transmission of at least one acoustic radiation membrane 10 in the watch case 2. The acoustic radiation membrane 10 of the holding arrangement is held in the watch case 2 by at least one connecting piece 12 acting in a horizontal direction parallel to a watch plane on one edge of the membrane 10 or on an element. edge 11 of the membrane 10.

In this first embodiment, the connecting piece is at least one screw 12 screwed through a threaded opening 14 of a part of the watch case 2, for example of a middle part 4 of the watch case 2 . The inner end of the screw 12 bears against a peripheral edge of the membrane 10 or against an external part of the edge element 11 fixed at the periphery of the membrane 10 as shown in Figures 1a and 1b. The screw 12 preferably rests against a cylindrical surface of the edge of the membrane or the edge member 11. The screw 12 should have a length greater than the threaded opening 14 and preferably a length of once and. half the length of the threaded opening 14 to allow the membrane to be held in the watch case 2, and a determined compressive force for the adjustment of a radiation frequency.

If a single screw 12 is provided for maintaining the membrane 10 in the box 2 shows, the peripheral edge of the membrane 10 or of the edge element 11 of the membrane 10, shown in Figures 1a and 1b , comes to bear against an inner surface of cylindrical shape, for example of the middle part 4 once the screw 12 bears opposite against the edge or the border element 11 of the membrane 10. The more the screw 12 is screwed into the threaded opening 14 of the middle part 4 and the more the membrane 10 is compressed, which has the effect of modifying its acoustic radiation frequency. This frequency can thus be adjusted in accordance with, for example, the note generated by a gong struck by a hammer of a striking mechanism in the watch movement 6. According to the present invention, the arrangement for holding the membrane 10 in the case 2 of watch 1 is made in the plane parallel to the dial or support 7 of the watch movement 6 by means of at least one connecting piece, such as a screw 12 screwed into a threaded opening 14 in the middle part 4 for example .

As shown in Figure 1b, the watch 1 essentially comprises a watch case 2, which is composed of a middle part 4, on which at least one crystal 3 is sealed on an upper side, and a bottom 5 fixed to another lower side of the middle part 4. The bottom 5 is mounted by known means, not shown and in a removable and sealed manner on the middle part 4. The bottom 5 can also include openings 15 distributed uniformly over a circle. coaxial inside the edge of the back 5. These openings 15 allow the notes generated or the melody generated in the watch case and radiated by the acoustic membrane 10 to be transmitted outside the watch case 2.

The watch 1 also includes a watch movement 6 or an electronic watch module 6 arranged on a support 7, like a plate. A striking mechanism in the watch movement 6 may comprise in a first variant at least one gong mounted on a gong holder fixed to a plate 7 or to the middle part 4, and at least one hammer mounted to rotate or with linear movement on the plate. to come to strike said stamp in determined periods. The striking mechanism can comprise in a second variant a keyboard with a set of blades connected to a heel, which is fixed on the plate, and pins integral with a cylinder or a rotating disk on the plate to activate the plates. blades for the generation of a melody.

The watch 1 also includes a dial, not shown and above the watch movement 6, which is held at the edge on or against the middle part 4 and arranged below the watch glass 3. In the case of a mechanical bell or musical watch 1, time indication hands, which are not shown, are provided on the dial which generally carries hour markers on the periphery.

In the remainder of the description, reference will mainly be made to a striking mechanism with at least one gong attached to a gong holder mounted on a plate or in connection with the middle part 4 of the watch case 2 and capable of to be struck by a hammer for the generation of a particular note.

The mechanical or electronic ringing or musical watch 1 essentially comprises at least one acoustic membrane 10 to improve the acoustic performance of the sound produced by the striking mechanism. In addition to the well-determined geometric shape, the acoustic membrane 10 can be made of a material chosen to control and optimize the density of modes in the range of audible frequencies. Generally the material chosen can be steel, or amorphous metal, or a polymer, or in another metallic material. Preferably, the material chosen can also be, for example, wood or a composite material, which can be a composite of wood, but without any limitation.

The thickness of the membrane 10 can be close to 1 mm in this case. According to an alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, an annular edge element 11 can be fixed to the peripheral edge of the membrane 10. The diameter of the membrane 10 with its edge element 11 can be similar to the diameter of the glass. 3 of watch, and can be between 20 and 40 mm. The edge element 11 of metal or amorphous metal, in cross section has a T-shape with an annular inner side fixed at the periphery of the edge of the membrane 10 and with an annular outer side resting on an inner part of the bottom 5 fixed to the middle part 4. This annular outer side comprises for example a cylindrical surface for the support of each screw 12 for retaining the membrane 10.

As previously indicated, at least one screw 12 is provided, but there may be several other screws 12 normally evenly distributed around the membrane 10 or the edge element 11. These different screws 12 are arranged to each come in contact with a peripheral edge of the membrane 10 or as shown in Figures 1a and 1b of the edge element 11 when each screwed into a respective threaded opening 14 in the caseband 4. At least two screws may be provided 12 at 180 ° from each other or three screws 12 at 120 ° from each other or four screws 12 at 90 ° from each other as shown in Figures 1a and 1b, or even more screw 12. These four screws 12 are each screwed into their corresponding threaded opening 14 in the middle part 4 to come into contact with the edge element 11. Depending on the contact force of each screw 12 against the outer portion of the 'border element 11 following the screwing operation, a frequency adaptation The radiation of the membrane 10 is obtained more easily than with a single screw 12 to adapt to the vibration frequency of at least one gong once struck by the hammer.

Figure 5 shows the influence of the use of such a screw 12 on the acoustic level of each mode of acoustic radiation compared to a standard assembly without screws. The graph in FIG. 5 therefore represents the acoustic level of each radiated mode with and without screws (connecting piece). Different measurement points are shown between 0 and 14 kHz (X axis) and with the values mentioned in the table below, where the abbreviation Lq ("equivalent level" in English terminology) defines the sound level in decibel dB (axis Y). Generally the intensity of acoustic radiation is much better with the screw resting against the peripheral edge of the membrane or against the border element, than without the use of the screw. Normally, an even better result can be envisaged if several screws are provided to hold the membrane in the watch case. 1850 11.43 12.59 2955 17.85 26.46 4345 30.96 26.5 5979 24.61 31.9 6815 27.59 31.09 10200 13.64 22.21 12620 17.65 27.34

Figures 2a and 2b show a simplified top view without watch movement 6 and support 7 of the watch movement, and a simplified partial cross section of a second embodiment of a watch case 2 comprising an arrangement of maintenance and vibration transmission of at least one acoustic radiation membrane 10. The only difference of this second embodiment with respect to the first embodiment concerns the arrangement for maintaining the acoustic radiation membrane 10, which is held in the watch case 2 by at least one connecting piece 13. This connecting piece 13 is a coil spring bearing between a cylindrical surface of the edge of the membrane or of the edge element 11 and an interior part of the watch case 2, which is preferably caseband 4.

As above, if a single compressed coil spring 13 is used for the maintenance and the vibration transmission of the acoustic membrane 10, the peripheral edge of the membrane 10 or the edge element 11 of the membrane 10 bears against a cylindrical inner surface, for example, of the middle part 4 opposite the coil spring 13.

However, it may preferably be provided to have several coil springs 13 for maintaining the membrane 10 or the membrane 10 with its edge element 11. It can be provided at least two coil springs 13 at 180 ° l 'one of the other or three coil springs 13 at 120 ° from each other or four coil springs 13 at 90 ° from each other as shown in Figures 2a and 2b, or even more coil springs 13.

It should be noted that with such an arrangement for maintaining and vibrating transmission of a membrane 10 of acoustic radiation in the watch case 2, there cannot be an adaptation of an acoustic radiation frequency of the membrane 10 in accordance with a struck timbre generating a particular note or at least one activated blade of a musical keyboard.

FIG. 3 represents a partial cross section of a third embodiment of an arrangement for maintaining and vibrating transmission of a membrane 10 of acoustic radiation in a watch case 2 1. This third embodiment differs from the two previous embodiments only by the fact that the maintenance of the acoustic radiation membrane is obtained by a combination or a set of a first connecting piece 12 and a second connecting piece 13. The first connecting piece 12 is a screw, which can be screwed into a threaded opening 14 of a part of the watch case 2, which is for example the middle part 4 as described with reference to Figures 1a and 1b of the first form of execution. The second connecting piece 13 is a coil spring, which is crossed by the rod of the screw 12. The coil spring 13 bears between a cylindrical surface of the edge of the membrane 10 or of the edge element 11 and a part inside of watch box 2.

As previously described for the first and second embodiments, there may be provided several sets of screws 12 and coil spring 13 regularly distributed around the membrane 10 or the edge element 11 of the membrane 10. It at least two sets of screws 12 and coil spring 13 at 180 ° to each other or three sets of screws 12 and coil spring 13 at 120 ° to each other or four sets of screws 12 may be provided and coil spring 13 at 90 ° to each other, or even more sets of screws 12 and coil spring 13.

Figure 4 shows a partial cross section of a fourth embodiment of an arrangement for maintaining and transmitting vibration of a membrane 10 of acoustic radiation in a watch case 2 1. In this fourth form of In execution, the acoustic radiation membrane 10 is shown not bonded to a border element, but has the shape of a bowl with a peripheral edge rising from a bowl bottom of the membrane 10.

An opening 10 'is made in the peripheral edge for the passage of a connecting piece 12, which is preferably a screw 12 in order to screw it into a threaded opening 14 of a part of the watch case, such as caseband 4 for example. The screw head 12 is on the inner side of the rim of the diaphragm cup. In this fourth embodiment of the arrangement for maintaining and transmitting vibration of the membrane 10 of acoustic radiation in the watch case 2, it is necessary to provide at least two screws 12 for maintaining the membrane 10 in the case. 2 of watch. A first screw 12 passing through a first opening 10 'of the membrane rim 10 is screwed into a first threaded opening 14 for example in the middle part 4 of watch case 2, and a second screw 12 passing through a second opening 10' of the membrane edge 10 for example at 180 ° from the first opening 10 'is screwed into a second tapped opening 14 for example in the middle part 4 of the watch case 2 and remote from the first tapped opening 14. The two tapped openings 14 for the two screws 12 are therefore in this case at 180 ° to each other. There can also be provided three screws 12 each passing through a respective opening 10 'in the peripheral edge of the membrane 10 to each be screwed into a respective threaded opening 14, for example in the middle part 4. These threaded openings 14 are preferably spaced apart. 120 ° from each other. For four screws 12 each passing through a respective opening 10 'in the peripheral edge of the membrane 10 to each be screwed into a respective threaded opening 14 for example in the middle part 4, they are spaced 90 ° from each other. , and so on for more than four screws to be screwed into the respective threaded openings 14 of the caseband 4.

The acoustic radiation membrane is no longer compressed in this fourth embodiment of the holding arrangement, but stretched, which reverses the frequency adaptation of acoustic radiation with respect to the first and third forms of execution. However, this also makes it possible to have an adaptation of the frequency of radiation of the membrane 10 more easily to adapt to the frequency of vibration of at least one gong once struck by a hammer.

It should also be noted that the material of the acoustic membrane 10 can also be precious or noble wood, such as mahogany or oak or cherry, which is known for its excellent properties of acoustic radiation. It can also be chosen from spruce or maple or rosewood or violet wood or cherry or ebony commonly used for the design of violins or guitars. It can still be chosen from other woods, such as poplar, willow, walnut, fir and even some fruit trees. However, for a good hold in the watch case, the membrane 10 can also be made of a material such as steel, or gold or platinum or amorphous metal, or a polymer, or in another metallic material. .

From the description which has just been given, several variant embodiments of the arrangement for maintaining and transmitting the vibration of the acoustic radiation membrane in the watch case can be designed by those skilled in the art without going out. within the scope of the invention defined by the claims. At least one connecting piece can be placed near a stamp holder fixed to the middle part.

Claims (13)

1. Arrangement for maintaining and transmitting a vibratory membrane (10) of acoustic radiation in a case (2) of a musical or ringing watch (1), the case (2) comprising at least one glass (3) mounted on a middle part (4) and a back (5) mounted on a side opposite to the middle part (4), characterized in that the acoustic radiation membrane (10) is held in a part of the watch case (2) by au at least one connecting piece (12, 13) arranged between a peripheral edge of the membrane (10) or an edge element (11) of the membrane (10) and a part of the watch case (2) acting for the maintaining the membrane in a direction parallel to the plane of the watch. 2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting piece is at least one screw (12) screwed through a threaded opening (14) of a watch case part (2), an inner end of the screw bearing against the peripheral edge of the membrane (10) or against an external part of the border element (11) fixed at the periphery of the membrane (10). 3. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that several connecting pieces for holding the membrane (10) of acoustic radiation are screws (12), and in that the screws (12) are arranged to each come in contact of the peripheral edge of the diaphragm (10) or of the border element (11) of the diaphragm when each screwed through a respective threaded opening (14) of a watch case part (2), the openings threaded (14) being regularly distributed around the membrane (10) or the border element (11) of the membrane. 4. Arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that the screws (12) are in number of two arranged at 180 ° from one another or in number of three arranged at 120 ° from one another or in number of four arranged at 90 ° to each other. 5. Arrangement according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the part of the watch case (2), which comprises the threaded opening (s) (14), is a middle part (4) of the case (2) watch. 6. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting piece is a coil spring (13) disposed between a part of the watch case (2) and the peripheral edge of the membrane (10) or the element of edge (11) of the membrane (10). 7. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that several connecting pieces for maintaining the membrane (10) of acoustic radiation are coil springs (13) arranged between a part of the watch case (2) and the edge. peripheral of the membrane (10) or the border element (11) of the membrane (10), and being regularly spaced from each other at the periphery of the membrane (10) or the border element (11) of the membrane (10). 8. Arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that the part of the watch case (2) is a middle part (4). 9. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the maintenance of the membrane (10) of acoustic radiation is obtained by an assembly of a first connecting piece (12), which is a screw, and a second piece connection (13), which is a coil spring, in that the screw (12) is screwed into a threaded opening (14) of part of the watch case 2, in that the coil spring (13) is disposed between a part of the watch case (2) and the peripheral edge of the membrane (10) or the border element (11) of the membrane (10), and crossed by the shank of the screw (12). 10. Arrangement according to claim 9, characterized in that the maintenance of the membrane (10) of acoustic radiation is obtained by several sets of screws (12) and coil spring (13) regularly spaced around the membrane (10) or the border element (11) of the membrane (10), each screw (12) being screwed into a respective threaded opening (14) of the watch case part (2), which is the middle part (4). 11. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the acoustic radiation membrane (10) has the shape of a cup with a peripheral edge rising from a bottom of the cup of the membrane (10), in that it at least two connecting pieces are provided, which are screws (12) each passing through a respective opening (10 ') made in the peripheral edge of the membrane (10) in order to each be screwed into a threaded opening (14 ) respective part of the watch case (2), such as a middle part (4), one head of each screw (12) located on the inner side of the rim of the membrane cup (10), the screws being regularly spaced from one another. 12. Ringing or musical watch (1), which comprises an arrangement of an acoustic radiation membrane in a watch case according to one of the preceding claims, the case (2) comprising at least one glass (3) mounted on a middle part. (4) and a back (5) mounted on a side opposite to the caseband (4), characterized in that the watch (1) comprises at least one watch movement (6) with a striking mechanism, mounted on a support ( 11). 13. Striking or musical watch (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that the striking mechanism comprises at least one gong mounted on a gong holder and capable of being struck by a hammer for the generation of a note. particular, the acoustic radiation membrane (10) being compressed or stretched by a connecting piece, such as a screw (12) to adapt an acoustic radiation frequency of the membrane in accordance with the note generated by the vibrating timbre.